"MY BIRTHPLACE" Top 5 Page for this destination Amsterdam by pieter_jan_v


Amsterdam Travel Guide: 12,426 reviews and 20,136 photos

Amsterdam: Compassion, Resolution & Heroism
Startpoint Amsterdam: Central Station

Amsterdam is the city were I was born in 1953. I still come there on my searchtrips for records, to go to VT-meetings or to visit my family.

On the picture above you can see the whole city including the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (thanks to aerophoto-schiphol.nl).
Visit my SCHIPHOL page to get detailed info on AMSTERDAM AIRPORT.

On the picture on the left you see the Central Station surroundings map. Most Amsterdam visitors start here.

I am the Amsterdam Tip Grouper at VT. So, if you build an Amsterdam-page be aware I will check it and in some cases do some grouping corrections or send you an email when I find errors or outdated info. Just to improve quality. Please add info on not-published locations.

I like to take you on a alternative shopping tour in the centre of town. We start from the Central Train Station. Please go to OFF THE BEATEN PATH.

Aerial view of Center City

You have to walk all the canals which are constructed as half rings around the city center. They are clearly visible on the picture.

If you want to take a Virtual tour from the Amsterdam Central Station into the city start HERE.

There's more Amsterdam at my Vondelpark page.

Why is Amsterdam also called "Mokum"? Mokum is derived from the Hebrew word Makom, meaning city. The Jewish diamant traders used a hebrew "code" in their business talks to name the cities they were travelling to. In this way their travel destination stayed secure and the risk of a planned robbery was decreased. Amsterdam was coded Makom Allif, what was shortened to the popular Mokum through the Ages.

Average Amsterdam figures:

738.763 inhabitants
1.498.205 inhabitants Greater Amsterdam
173 nationalities
1 Mayor
600,000 bicycles
220,000 trees
600,000 flower bulbs in parks and public gardens
28 parks
232 city trams
9 ferryboats
21 markets
1 Flower Market
0,334 shops
165 antique shops
24 diamond-polishing factories
165 canals
1,281 bridges
8 wooden drawbridges
1 Skinny Bridge
110 glass-topped canal boats
2,500 houseboats
6,800 6th, 17th and 18th century buildings
654 stone gables
1 Royal Palace
302 statues and sculptures
6 windmills
51 museums
141 art galleries
22 Rembrandt paintings
1 Nightwatch
206 Van Gogh paintings
1 Civic Guard Gallery
140 wax statues at Madame Tussaud
6,100 animals at the Artis Zoo
4 barrel organs
9 carillons
42 historical church organs
16,000 concerts and theatrical performan­ces
40 concerts and theatrical performances per day
55 theaters and concert halls
1 Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
1 Muziektheater (musical theater)
61 cinemas
1,402 cafe's and bars
36 discotheques
755 restaurants
8.200 hotelbeds
5 camping sites
8.332.600 bed nights by tourists from abroad
15.854.000 day visitors

Pros and Cons
  • Pros:Just come and enjoy
  • Cons:Too crowded at times
  • In a nutshell:Big City!!!
  • Last visit to Amsterdam: Apr 2012
  • Intro Updated Apr 7, 2012
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Reviews (411)

Comments (164)

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  • wise23girl's Profile Photo
    wise23girl May 18, 2012 at 4:32 PM Report Abuse

    Well these are very informative hotel reviews.

    Plan to spend a couple of night with my grandaughter in Amsterdam in July...will come by train from Paris and then on to Hamburg. I do not want to have to carry luggage upstairs. Would like to be near the 'heart' of things.
    David has upped the ante and now with a house full of visitors I am thinking of letting my travel agent 'look after us'...but maybe I should not waste my VT help.

    Three or 4 stars ...character...not a tall high rise 'nothing'

  • nyperose's Profile Photo
    nyperose Apr 21, 2012 at 11:30 AM Report Abuse

    Thank you for excellent Amsterdam tips. No need to buy an Amsterdam guide after having read your pages:-)

    Greetings from Lausanne, Ellen

  • chocolatecake's Profile Photo
    chocolatecake Feb 19, 2012 at 7:40 PM Report Abuse

    Hi, PJ, may I know how do you 'stretch' your travelogue from 8 pictures to 33 pictures length?!:D Nice warm friendly VT Meet with J :)))

  • hunterV's Profile Photo
    hunterV Jan 24, 2012 at 11:53 AM Report Abuse

    Hello, Pieter! What a special destination! Thanks a lot for your details!

  • mickeyboy07's Profile Photo
    mickeyboy07 Dec 20, 2011 at 2:55 AM Report Abuse

    great pages,we are going to Amsterdam for four days in March,anything that you feel is a must see would be very grateful,thanks

  • alza's Profile Photo
    alza Dec 8, 2011 at 8:09 PM Report Abuse

    Hi Peter, If I want to see Saint Nicholas arriving by ship and riding into town on his white horse, where should I go? Tks in advance! (Just read about this today.)

  • Igraine's Profile Photo
    Igraine Oct 8, 2011 at 1:34 PM Report Abuse

    Was hier al eerder voor de meeting foto's maar toen waarschijnlijk te vroeg. Jammer van de regen!

  • Greggor58's Profile Photo
    Greggor58 Jun 21, 2011 at 6:11 PM Report Abuse

    There's so much to read here...and so little time just this moment...I just wanted to say hello and thank you for the little gift from the Netherlands Pieter...It was a pleasure to meet you...we'll cross paths another time soon I'm sure!

  • paolodecastro's Profile Photo
    paolodecastro Jun 18, 2011 at 5:53 PM Report Abuse

    hi PJ.....nice place...hope i can visit Anne franks Home..:)

  • Paris92's Profile Photo
    Paris92 Feb 1, 2011 at 9:57 AM Report Abuse

    Incredible pages! Well done on the Barney nomination!

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